Psalms 67:1

KJV

¶ To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm [or] Song. God be merciful unto us, and bless us; [and] cause his face to shine upon us; Selah.

KJV (with Strong's)

To the chief Musician {H5329}{H8764)} on Neginoth {H5058}, A Psalm {H4210} or Song {H7892}. God {H430} be merciful {H2603}{H8799)} unto us, and bless {H1288}{H8762)} us; and cause his face {H6440} to shine {H215}{H8686)} upon us; Selah {H5542}.

Complete Jewish Bible

For the leader. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song: God, be gracious to us, and bless us. May he make his face shine toward us, (Selah)

Berean Standard Bible

May God be gracious to us and bless us, and cause His face to shine upon us, Selah

American Standard Version

God be merciful unto us, and bless us, And cause his face to shine upon us; [Selah

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Psalm 67:1 opens with a profound and concise communal prayer for divine favor, setting the foundational tone for the entire psalm. This verse, addressed with liturgical instructions, earnestly petitions God for His unmerited grace, comprehensive blessing, and the manifest presence of His benevolent approval, establishing the spiritual posture of dependence and hope that permeates the subsequent universal vision of God's salvation for all nations.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Psalm 67 stands as a unique blend of petition and praise, often categorized as a "missionary psalm" due to its expansive vision. Verse 1 serves as the crucial opening plea, a direct address to God for His personal favor upon His people, Israel. This initial request for blessing is not an isolated petition but a foundational prerequisite for the psalm's broader purpose: that God's "way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations" ([Psalm 67:2](/psalms/67-2 "Psalm 67:2 - God's Way Known to All Nations")). The "Selah" at the end of the verse acts as a liturgical marker, inviting the worshiper to pause and deeply ponder the weighty implications of this earnest supplication before the psalm progresses to its global scope. It immediately follows Psalm 66, which celebrates God's mighty acts, and precedes Psalm 68, a triumphal hymn, placing it within a context of God's power and redemptive history.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The superscription, "To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm [or] Song," provides vital clues about the psalm's original setting. "Neginoth" specifies that the psalm was intended for performance with stringed instruments, indicating its use in public worship within the temple or synagogue. This highlights its liturgical significance and communal nature in ancient Israel. The language of "God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us" directly echoes the ancient and revered Aaronic Blessing found in [Numbers 6:24-26](/numbers/6-24 "Numbers 6:24-26 - The Priestly Blessing"). This connection underscores the deep theological roots of the psalm's prayer, aligning it with the covenant promises of God's protection, favor, and peace upon His people. The concept of God's "face shining" was a powerful metaphor for divine approval and benevolent presence, contrasting sharply with God "hiding His face," which signified disfavor or judgment.

* **Key Themes:** The primary theme in Psalm 67:1 is **Divine Mercy and Blessing**. The opening plea for God's mercy (Hebrew: *ḥānan*) acknowledges humanity's utter dependence on God's unmerited favor and compassion. The subsequent request to "bless us" (Hebrew: *bārak*) encompasses a comprehensive desire for holistic well-being—spiritual, material, and relational prosperity—all flowing from God's goodness. A closely related theme is **God's Manifest Presence and Favor**, powerfully conveyed by the imagery of God causing His face to shine upon His people. This anthropomorphic expression signifies God's active, benevolent attention, His illuminating guidance, and the warmth of His approval, which dispels darkness and brings joy. Crucially, this personal blessing serves as the **Theological Foundation for Universal Mission**. While the initial focus is on Israel, the broader psalm quickly expands to a global vision, where the blessing upon God's people is intended to enable them to be a light to the nations, so that God's "saving health" may be known throughout the earth ([Psalm 67:2](/psalms/67-2 "Psalm 67:2 - God's Way Known to All Nations")). This aligns with the Abrahamic covenant, where Abraham was blessed to be a blessing to all families of the earth ([Genesis 12:2-3](/genesis/12-2 "Genesis 12:2-3 - The Abrahamic Covenant")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Merciful (Hebrew, _ḥānan'_):** This verb conveys the idea of showing favor, being gracious, or having pity. It denotes a spontaneous, unmerited act of kindness and compassion, often from a superior to an inferior, emphasizing God's sovereign and benevolent disposition towards His creation.
* **Bless (Hebrew, _bārak'_):** This word carries the sense of kneeling, praising, or invoking divine favor. In this context, it is a petition for God to bestow His goodness, prosperity, and well-being in all its forms—spiritual, physical, and material—upon His people.
* **Cause his face to shine (Hebrew, _'ōr pānīm'_):** A vivid anthropomorphism, literally meaning "lighten face." This phrase signifies God's benevolent presence, His approval, and His illuminating guidance. When God's face shines, it implies His active attention, dispelling darkness, bringing joy, and granting insight and favor.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"¶ To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm [or] Song.":** This superscription serves as a liturgical instruction, indicating that the psalm was intended for public worship, specifically to be accompanied by stringed instruments ("Neginoth"). It establishes the psalm's identity as a sacred musical piece for communal use.
* **"God be merciful unto us, and bless us;":** This is a direct, earnest, and foundational plea for God's unmerited favor and comprehensive well-being. The request for "mercy" (ḥānan) acknowledges human dependence on divine compassion, while the petition to "bless us" (bārak) encompasses all forms of divine goodness, including prosperity, protection, and spiritual flourishing.
* **"[and] cause his face to shine upon us;":** This powerful imagery is a profound request for God's manifest presence and approval. When God's "face shines," it signifies His benevolent attention, His illuminating guidance, and the warmth of His favor, which dispels fear, brings joy, and grants a sense of security and acceptance.
* **"Selah.":** This common Hebrew interjection, found throughout the Psalms, is a liturgical or musical notation. While its precise meaning is debated, it is generally understood to indicate a pause for reflection, a musical interlude, or a change in vocal or instrumental emphasis, inviting the worshiper to deeply ponder the profound implications of the preceding prayer.

#### Literary Devices
Psalm 67:1 employs several literary devices to convey its profound message. The most prominent is **Anthropomorphism**, seen in the phrase "cause his face to shine upon us," which attributes a human characteristic (a shining face) to God to express His benevolent disposition and active presence. This is a powerful **Metaphor** for divine favor, approval, and illuminating guidance, contrasting with the idea of God hiding His face, which would signify disfavor. The verse also functions as a **Supplication** or **Litany**, a direct and earnest prayer composed of a series of petitions ("be merciful," "bless us," "cause his face to shine"), creating a cumulative effect of intense longing for divine favor. While not strict parallelism, the three requests build upon each other, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of the desired divine intervention.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse is deeply rooted in the Old Testament understanding of God's covenant relationship with Israel, echoing the ancient priestly benediction. The requests for mercy, blessing, and God's shining face directly parallel the foundational declaration of God's desire to bless and protect His people found in [Numbers 6:24-26](/numbers/6-24 "Numbers 6:24-26 - The Priestly Blessing"). The psalm's opening prayer for divine favor upon Israel is not an end in itself but serves as the necessary precondition for the subsequent universal mission, where God's "saving health" is to be known among all nations ([Psalm 67:2](/psalms/67-2 "Psalm 67:2 - God's Way Known to All Nations")). This highlights the profound theological principle that God blesses His people not just for their own sake, but so they might be a channel of blessing to the world, reflecting His glory and drawing others to Him. It underscores the concept that divine favor is both a personal gift and a communal responsibility, intended to facilitate God's redemptive purposes globally.

* [Numbers 6:24-26](/numbers/6-24 "Numbers 6:24-26 - The Priestly Blessing")
* [Psalm 4:6](/psalms/4-6 "Psalm 4:6 - The Light of God's Countenance")
* [Genesis 12:2](/genesis/12-2 "Genesis 12:2 - Abraham Blessed to Be a Blessing")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Psalm 67:1 offers a timeless and profound model for personal and communal prayer, reminding us of our absolute dependence on God's unmerited grace and active presence in our lives. It calls us to regularly seek His face, not as a mere ritual, but as a heartfelt longing for His approval, His illuminating guidance, and the deep joy that His presence brings. In a world often overshadowed by anxiety, uncertainty, and spiritual darkness, the prayer for God's face to shine upon us is a powerful petition for His light to dispel our fears, His wisdom to guide our steps, and His favor to sustain our lives. Furthermore, understanding the broader context of Psalm 67, this verse challenges us to recognize that the blessings we receive from God are not solely for our own comfort or prosperity. Instead, they are intended to equip and empower us to be a radiant witness to God's goodness in the world, reflecting His light so that others might be drawn to His saving truth and experience His transformative love. It is a call to live blessed lives that become a blessing to others, participating in God's global mission.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding the Aaronic blessing (Numbers 6:24-26) deepen your appreciation for the prayer in Psalm 67:1?**
* **In what specific areas of your life do you most deeply desire God's mercy and comprehensive blessing today?**
* **How can your personal experience of God's shining face and favor empower you to be a more effective witness or channel of blessing to those around you?**

### FAQ
**What does "Neginoth" mean in the superscription?**

Answer: "Neginoth" is a Hebrew term found in the superscriptions of several psalms, including Psalm 67. It is a musical direction indicating that the psalm was intended to be performed with stringed instruments. This highlights the liturgical and musical context of the psalm's use in ancient Israelite worship, suggesting it was a sacred song meant to be accompanied by instruments like lyres or harps.

**What is the significance of "Selah" at the end of the verse?**

Answer: "Selah" is a Hebrew word appearing frequently in the Psalms and Habakkuk. While its precise meaning remains debated among scholars, it is widely understood as a musical or liturgical instruction. Common interpretations suggest it signifies a pause for reflection, a musical interlude, or a change in musical dynamics or vocal emphasis. Its placement after [Psalm 67:1](/psalms/67-1 "Psalm 67:1 - God Be Merciful and Bless Us") invites the worshiper to meditate deeply on the profound prayer that has just been uttered, allowing its weight to settle before moving forward.

**How does "cause his face to shine upon us" relate to other biblical passages?**

Answer: This phrase is a powerful anthropomorphism that echoes the ancient priestly blessing found in [Numbers 6:24-26](/numbers/6-24 "Numbers 6:24-26 - The Priestly Blessing"), where the Lord is invoked to "make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you." It signifies God's benevolent presence, His approval, and the light of His favor, which brings guidance, joy, and dispels darkness. It contrasts with God "hiding His face," which implies disfavor or judgment, as seen in passages like [Deuteronomy 31:17](/deuteronomy/31-17 "Deuteronomy 31:17 - God Hides His Face"). The concept is also present in [Psalm 4:6](/psalms/4-6 "Psalm 4:6 - The Light of God's Countenance"), where the psalmist longs for the light of God's countenance.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Psalm 67:1, with its earnest plea for God's mercy, blessing, and the shining of His face, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. He is the very embodiment of God's mercy and grace, the one through whom all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places are poured out upon us ([Ephesians 1:3](/ephesians/1-3 "Ephesians 1:3 - Blessed in Christ")). In Christ, God's face truly shines upon humanity, for He is "the light of the world" ([John 8:12](/john/8-12 "John 8:12 - Jesus, the Light of the World")) and "the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being" ([Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - Christ, the Radiance of God's Glory")). Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, we receive not just a temporary blessing but eternal life, reconciliation with God, and access to His very presence ([Romans 5:8-10](/romans/5-8 "Romans 5:8-10 - Reconciliation Through Christ")). The prayer for God's face to shine upon us is answered in the person of Christ, who reveals the Father's heart and grants us the privilege of living in the full light of His favor, enabling us, as believers, to reflect that light to a world still in darkness ([2 Corinthians 4:6](/2_corinthians/4-6 "2 Corinthians 4:6 - God's Light in Our Hearts")). He is the divine means by which God's "saving health" is made known to all nations, fulfilling the broader missionary vision of Psalm 67 through the Great Commission ([Matthew 28:19-20](/matthew/28-19 "Matthew 28:19-20 - The Great Commission")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Psalms 4:6

¶ [There be] many that say, Who will shew us [any] good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

2 Corinthians 4:6

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Psalms 4:1

¶ To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm of David. Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me [when I was] in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

Numbers 6:24

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:

Numbers 6:27

And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.

Psalms 31:16

Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies' sake.

Psalms 80:1

¶ To the chief Musician upon Shoshannimeduth, A Psalm of Asaph. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest [between] the cherubims, shine forth.